Machine for cleansing clothes



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. CHAMBERLAIN.

MACHINE FOR-CLEANSING CLOTHES. No. 332,588. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

1 JV VEN TOR h I 2 1 I i? Attorney N PETERS Phamuum n har. Washington, D. C.

Z. M h S m M S 2 N I A L R E B M A H G M u (No Model.)

. MACHINE FOR CLEANSING CLOTHES. No. 332,588.

Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

WITNESSES .Atiorney N. PETERS. PhokrLilhognpher. Waihirlglon, n. C.

JAMES M. CHAMBERLAIN, OF XVINFIELD, KANSAS.

MACHINE FOR CLEANSING CLOTHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,588, dated December 1 1 Application filed March 20,1385.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. CHAMBER- LAIN, of XVinfield, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleansing Clothes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a machine for cleausing clothes by steam, the object being to provide a machine so constructed as to permit steam to be introduced both above and below the clothes.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly broken away; and Fig. 4 illustrates the inner removable clothesframe detached.

A represents a rectangular box, closed on all sides and provided with a suitable waterinlet, a. This box forms the water-reservoir of the machine, and at the same time serves as a base to support the clothes-vessel B and its hollow standards 0, which latter serve as steam-pipes. The vessel B is semicircular in form, and is formed at each end with a steamchamber, I). These chambers Z) communicate with the interior of the vessel B by means of two series of openings, D and D, separated by cleats d d.

E E represent valves extending across the machine at each end, within the chambers 12, and formed with fingerpieces e e, so that the valves may be turned to close either row or series of openings D and D. The steam-pipes 0 connect the water-reservoir with the steamchambers I). The vessel B is formed with a central water-outlet, N, which extends down into the reservoir A a sufficient distance to prevent the entrance of steam through it. The office of this outlet is to convey waste water from the clothes to the reservoir.

At one end of the machine is arranged a pipe, F, whose lower end extends into the Serial No. 159,586. (No mode.)

reservoir A below low-water mark, while its upper end is provided with a whistle to signal when the water in the reservoir has fallen below the required mark.

The cleats d d, in addition to separating the upper and lower rows of openings in the clothesvesschserve to support a clothes-frame, G. This frame consists of parallel side pieces, 9 9, end cross-pieces, g g, and parallel semicircular rods secured to said end pieces. A central transverse support, is secured to the semicircular rods of the frame, said support being adapted to rest on the bottom of the vessel B, and being cut away centrally to permit the escape of waste water through the opening I) of the vessel.

H H represent transverse bails or bars, preferably secured across the ends of the clothes-frame removably, to hold the clothes in place.

I represents the cover of the vessel, fitting the latter tightly, and formed with a central tubular outlet, 1', for the escape of steam and dirt from the clothes. This outlet 2' is provided with a removable cap, 11, for use when desired.

The operation of myimproved machine may be explained as follows: Water is supplied to the reservoir A. The clothes are then thoroughly soaped and placed on the frame G. The entire device is then placed upon the stove. As soon as the water is sufficiently heated, steam will rise through the pipes C, and will enter the vessel B either above or below the clothes, accordingly as the valves E E are turned.

In practice it takes but about twenty minutcs to sufficiently steam the clothes, and at the end of that time the water in the reservoir will have fallen sufficiently to permit the entrance of steam to the whistle-pipe to signal the completion of the operation.

It will be apparent that the clothes-frame may be readily removed for cleaning when necessary.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A steam clothescleanser consisting of the combination of a water-reservoir,a clothesvessel supported above the latter by steampipes and provided with steam-chambers, and

- tition-cleats separating said openings, and a cl0thes-fra1ne supported upon said cleats, substantially as set forth.

4. In a steamclothes-cleanser, the combination with the water-reservoir, of a clothesvessel provided with a central discharge-tube, and a clothes-frame supported within said vessel and provided with a transverse rest, which is cut away above said discharge-0pening of the Vessel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. CHAMBERLAIN.

\Vitn esses:

CORNELIUS TRUMP, J. FLIOKINGER. 

